Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. I’m super excited to share some awesome news with you all about Ben Shelton, the young American tennis star who’s making waves in the tennis world. Recently, tennis legend John McEnroe has been singing Shelton’s praises, predicting that he will be one of the top players in the world in the coming years.
Ben Shelton has been on an incredible journey in tennis. Starting the year at No. 96 in the ATP Rankings, he finished at No. 17, which is a significant leap for any player. Last year, he reached the US Open semi-finals and won his maiden title at the Japan Open. This year, he won his second ATP Tour singles title at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships and reached a career-high No. 13 in the ATP Rankings.
McEnroe believes Shelton is more complete and has the ability to reach the top five in the world if he continues his current trajectory. “I see Ben in the top five in the world if he keeps progressing. I think he’s got the ability. He wants it. He’s worked at it. He’s better than he was to me a year ago, more complete,” McEnroe said.
Shelton already has three top-10 wins to his name, including one over Jannik Sinner at the Shanghai Masters in 2023. However, he is yet to consistently perform against the best in the business. McEnroe’s prediction is a testament to Shelton’s potential and dedication to improving his game.
American men’s tennis seems to be on the rise again with several players in the top 20. Taylor Fritz is currently ranked seventh in the world, followed by Tommy Paul (13), Sebastian Korda (15), Frances Tiafoe (16), and Ben Shelton (17).
The wait for an American man to win another Grand Slam continues, with Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open title being the last major trophy lifted by an American man. However, McEnroe believes Shelton will be the one to make this breakthrough in the next couple of years.
“It’s just a matter of time,” McEnroe said about Shelton’s potential. “You know, I think American tennis is getting closer. You saw Taylor was in the final. Frances has been in a couple semis. Ben’s been in the semis. We’re going to make the breakthrough. Ben, I believe, is going to make a breakthrough in the next couple of years.”
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